Photo: Malik Monk backpedals after hitting a three-pointer and Dillon Brooks runs down the court behind him. (Sacramento Kings on Instagram)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

SACRAMENTO, California – The Sacramento Kings returned to action on Thursday night following a road trip that included stops in Boston, Chicago, and Milwaukee. The Kings emerged from the trip with a 2-1 record, having secured victories against the Celtics and Bulls but falling to the Bucks in their final matchup. On Thursday, the Kings faced the Houston Rockets at Golden 1 Center, with tip-off at 7 PM PST. The Rockets were playing the second night of a back-to-back, coming off an impressive 128-108 victory over the Denver Nuggets. The Kings, eager to rebound from their loss to Milwaukee, secured a hard-fought 132-127 win, improving their season record to 21-20 and their home record to 11-12.

The game was a tale of two halves, with the Kings dominating early before the Rockets staged a comeback. Sacramento built a 16-point lead at one point but had to fend off Houston’s late surge. The Kings edged the Rockets 26-25 in the first quarter and 35-27 in the second, taking a 61-52 lead into halftime. However, the Rockets responded in the third quarter, outscoring the Kings 33-29 to narrow the deficit. Both teams exploded offensively in the fourth quarter, scoring 42 points each, but Sacramento held on to clinch the victory.

The closing minutes were marked by tension, with both Domantas Sabonis and Dillon Brooks fouling out after committing careless fouls. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka expressed frustration with the officiating, calling the late-game whistles “soft” and criticizing his players’ foul troubles.

Key Performers – Kings

The Kings were led by an outstanding performance from DeMar DeRozan, who delivered in crunch time by scoring 16 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter. De’Aaron Fox also played a crucial role, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line in the final minutes to seal the victory. Malik Monk provided a strong spark off the bench, contributing 26 points to the Kings’ effort.

Key Performers – Rockets

For the Rockets, Jalen Green led the charge with 28 points in the losing effort. Rookie Amen Thompson impressed with a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Alperen Şengün also posted a double-double, finishing with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Postgame, the atmosphere in the Kings’ locker room was jubilant. Malik Monk praised the lively crowd at Golden 1 Center, saying, “I loved the energy tonight.”

Up Next

The Kings will remain at home to host the Washington Wizards on Sunday at 6 PM PST. As of this writing, the Wizards hold the league’s worst record at 6-33.